One Year In - Lessons I've Learned

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts this year, March 10th 2016 marks one full year since I packed in the standalone copywriting blog, registered 603 Copywriting and started on the journey to becoming a full-time freelancer.

In this past year, I’ve learned more about my trade than I have in the eight previous years as a junior copywriter, SEO copywriter and communications manager combined. So it seems like now would be a great time to share what I’ve learned.

Whether you’re an in-house writer looking to take the plunge, a seasoned old hand comparing your smooth sailing to my choppy waters, or just someone looking for an insight into what I’ve learned about running a business, read on!

Five Lessons Learned in My First Year Freelancing

Lesson One: People Are Going to Help

I was terrified about leaving my steady, ‘safe’ 9-5 role, with the guaranteed income and paid holidays. So much so that I actually wrote for the PCN about my fear of freelancing way back in 2012. And all of that still holds true. I’m still scared that this month will be the month I can’t pay the mortgage, or that next week won’t have any enquiries, or that I’ll fail miserably.

But it won’t stop me. Because, and this amazes me, people love to help out freelancers. Whether it’s friends providing moral support, family taking you out for a stress-free lunch, other freelancers providing advice (and referrals) or your own clients spreading the word about your services and returning to you time and time again.

Unless you’re a genuinely awful person – in which case any career that relies on talking to other humans will be an issue – people will help. So don’t be afraid to lean on that support network. You never know who’s going to come through for you next.

Lesson Two: Imposter Syndrome is Real

As I’ve said above, other copywriters have been great to me. Some of my best clients have been referred to me by “the competition” and I’m grateful for every lead, every tip and every pat on the back. Because when imposter syndrome kicks in, you’ll need to hold that encouragement close.

In a workplace, you’re going to get positive reinforcement from somewhere. Even if a director hates your guts, a colleague’s going to appreciate the work you do. Out on your own, it’s a lonely place. And when you’re comparing your work to the people sending you referrals, you’re going to panic that the client thinks they’ve been fobbed off. You feel like you’re an imposter, trying to make it in a world of professionals.

There’s a truism that bobs around the web. “You compare your behind-the-scenes footage to everyone else’s highlight reels.” That’s especially true as a creative, when you compare the solid, work-a-day piece you’re working on to some award-bait put together by a team of 12 with a huge budget and months of editing time.

Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet here. All you can do is remember that everyone feels like you do. Your client’s opinion of your work matters more than your own insecurities, and as long as they’re mostly happy, you’re doing a great job.

Lesson Three: You’re Going to Redefine What Success Means

Everyone sets up their business with grand dreams. You’re going to make millions, you’re going to win loads of awards and the respect of the masses, and you’re going to be presenting The Apprentice within four years.

Then you hit reality, realise that your projected earnings were a little bit optimistic, and feel like you’re not succeeding.

If you feel like that, go outside with a cup of tea. Take an hour to enjoy the fresh air. Maybe do some gardening, or throw a ball around for the dog, or just have a nap on the patio. Then all you need to do is realise that most office drones don’t get to do that on a whim.

There’s a book you should read. The Human Freelancer. It’s not about a mad scientist sewing American tourists together to make a hideous approximation of a freelancer. It’s about how you get to choose what success is, what makes you happy, and where your career will go.

“My vision kept me warm during the cold dark nights drinking meths under the railway when leads dried up.”

Chris Kenworthy – The Human Freelancer

Maybe for you success just means paying the bills, having the odd three day week or lie-in, and working for clients that you like. Happiness might be a better way to mark your success than your bank balance.

The thing is, you get to define what success means. And that’s wonderful.

Lesson Four: You’re Going to Realise You Don’t Know It All

If you’re going freelance, it’s because you’re good at what you do. Even accounting for imposter syndrome, you’ve got a skill that other people will pay you to use. But if you go into this career move thinking you know everything there is to know, you’re in for a rude awakening.

In the past year, despite thinking I was the mutt’s nuts while in-house, I’ve learned that I need to learn more. To improve. To be better. I read a book on copywriting or how to run a successful business once a month. I’m halfway through a course on SEO copywriting (it turns out I didn’t learn as much as I thought in-house), and I meet up with other writers every quarter to have a chat, a drink, and share ideas.

It doesn’t matter how good you think you are. You owe it to your clients – you owe it to yourself – to get even better.

Lesson Five: You’ll Wish You’d Done It Earlier

Looking back, you’d think freelancing was all doom and gloom. A life of relying on the kindness of strangers, of realising that you know nothing, that you won’t earn as much as you thought, and forever worrying that you’ll be found out.

It’s not.

Yes, there are days when it’s hard, and terrifying, and you have to tell your wife that you won’t be going on holiday this year, but they’re in the minority.

Because if I’ve learned one thing about freelancing, it’s something I learned when clients left glowing reviews. When I got to clock off early on a Friday or take a morning to go and watch Star Wars. And when I stopped dreading Monday mornings.

It’s that I wish I’d done it five years earlier.

I think that’s how every freelancer out there feels. And that’s the lesson you should take away from 603 Copywriting’s first year.